Memory Foam vs Pocket Sprung
Almost every UK mattress decision comes down to these two. They are not better or worse than each other; they fail in different directions, and knowing which failure you would mind less is the whole decision.
The comparison, side by side
| Memory foam | Pocket sprung | |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Sinks in, cradles, slow to respond | Sits on top, springy, responsive |
| Pressure relief | Excellent — its main strength | Good, and better with a foam comfort layer |
| Temperature | Sleeps warmer; foam traps heat | Cooler; air moves through the spring layer |
| Partner disturbance | Best in class — movement barely transfers | Good; each spring moves largely alone |
| Ease of moving around | Harder — you turn against the foam | Easier — the surface pushes back |
| Edge support | Usually weaker; edges compress | Usually stronger, especially with edge springs |
| Weight to handle | Heavy and floppy to turn | Heavy but rigid, easier to manoeuvre |
Choose memory foam if…
- You share a bed with someone who moves a lot or keeps different hours. Nothing isolates movement better.
- You have specific pressure points — hips, shoulders, an old injury — that ache on a springier surface.
- You sleep mostly on your side, where the shoulder and hip need somewhere to sink.
- You sleep cool anyway, or your bedroom is cold. Heat retention is the main complaint, and it matters far less in an unheated UK bedroom in February than the reviews suggest.
Choose pocket sprung if…
- You sleep hot, or you are going through menopause, or the room is warm. Airflow is the structural advantage and no amount of "cooling gel" fully closes the gap.
- You dislike the feeling of being held by the bed. Some people find memory foam claustrophobic and no trial period changes that.
- You have limited mobility or stiffness, and getting in, out and over matters. A responsive surface takes less effort to move on.
- You sit on the edge of the bed to dress. Spring edges hold; foam edges roll away.
- You are shopping for back pain and want support and pressure relief together — this is the usual starting point.
What about hybrids?
A hybrid puts foam comfort layers on a pocket-spring core, which is a genuine attempt to take the strengths of both. It largely works: spring airflow and edge support underneath, foam pressure relief on top.
Two honest caveats. First, "hybrid" is not a protected term — a thin scattering of foam on a cheap spring unit qualifies, so look at the actual layer depths rather than the word. Second, we do not currently stock a separate hybrid range, so we will not pretend otherwise; if a hybrid is what you want, the closest we hold are the foam-topped builds within our pocket sprung range.
Which size, once you have picked a type
Type decided, the next question is space, and it is worth more to your sleep than most people give it credit for. A Double gives two adults roughly a cot's width each; a King adds 15 cm of width and 10 cm of length; a Super King adds 45 cm of width over a Double. If partner disturbance is the reason you are considering memory foam, more width solves the same problem from a different direction.
Our UK mattress size guide has every size in centimetres and inches.
Frequently asked questions
Is memory foam or pocket sprung better?
Neither is better in general — they fail differently. Memory foam wins on pressure relief and partner disturbance but sleeps warmer and is harder to move on. Pocket sprung wins on temperature, responsiveness and edge support. Pick the failure you would mind less.
Does memory foam really sleep hot?
Yes, relative to springs. Foam is dense and restricts airflow, and it responds to body heat by design. Open-cell and gel-infused foams reduce the effect but do not eliminate it. In a cool UK bedroom many people never notice; if you already overheat at night, it matters.
Which lasts longer, memory foam or pocket sprung?
Both typically give around seven to eight years of proper support. They degrade differently: foam softens and develops body impressions, while spring units lose tension and can sag in the middle. Quality of materials predicts lifespan far better than the type does.
Can you turn a memory foam mattress?
Most memory foam mattresses are single-sided and must not be flipped — the comfort layers are only on top. You can usually rotate them head to foot, which evens out wear. Pocket sprung mattresses are more often turnable, but check the manufacturer's instructions rather than assuming.
Do more springs mean a better mattress?
Not necessarily. Higher spring counts allow more finely tuned support, but comfort-layer quality and how the mattress suits your body and weight matter just as much as the headline number.